Simon Judge
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Brit-Nat: A New Wave for the UK Wine Industry?
The Buyer Magazine has an article on how Brit-Nat, a category of British pét-nat, might disrupt the UK wine industry. Pét-nat is an emerging style in English and Welsh winemaking that contrasts sharply with traditional English sparkling wine. Whereas traditional English sparkling represents the established norms, Brit-Nat embodies a countercultural ethos with its non-conformist, artisanal…
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Kingscote Sparkling
Unusually, this review of English Kingscote Sparkling begins with its price. Originally sold at £18 in Tesco, it recently became discounted to £12 and then available for a mere £9 during a special 25% off offer. But how does an Sparkling English wine, typically retailing at £20 or much more, end up at such a…
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Diablo Deep Carmenere
Diablo Deep Carmenere is a new wine from Chile’s Rapel Valley and as a big fan of Carmenere, I was tempted enough to give it a try, especially since their Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon is among my picks. However, I’ve always found Diablo Red too sweet, so I approached this one with a sense of…
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Majestic Sees 94% Surge in Organic Wine Sales, Exceeding Growth Expectations
DrinksRetailing is reporting Majestic has had a significant 94% increase in organic wine sales over the past year, nearly doubling from the previous year. This growth, spanning both retail and on-trade supply sectors, surpasses the company’s initial forecast that predicted a doubling of organic sales within three years. Majestic attributes this success to the improved…
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Non-Provence Rosé
The Guardian Newspaper has an article by Hannah Crosbie that explores the dominance of Provence in the rosé wine market, noting that many people mistakenly believe rosé is only made there. However, rosé is produced worldwide, offering unique qualities that shouldn’t be overlooked. Hannah encourages readers to explore rosés from different regions, which can offer…
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Wine Atlas Jaen Dão
The Wine Atlas Jaen Dão 2021 from Asda’s new Wine Atlas range is a great find for those seeking less familiar wines that deliver both quality and affordability. Mencía, known as Jaen in Portugal, is an indigenous grape variety originating from the western regions of the Iberian Peninsula. This medium-bodied red, with a 13% ABV,…
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Remembering Stephen: A Shared Passion for Wine
Devon Life is reporting that Stephen Barrett, the UK wine critic and restaurateur, has passed away at the age of 77. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen at many press wine tastings. He had a remarkable way with words that truly set him apart. I mentioned him in the Bordeaux Experience tasting where he…
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25% Off at Waitrose
A less frequent 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced £6 or over from 20 August to 27 August 2024 inclusive. See the Waitrose press tasting for tips on what to buy.
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Kylie Minogue Prosecco
When my wife picked up this Kylie Minogue Prosecco, I had my doubts. Too much Prosecco DOC (not DOCG) nowadays is mass-produced, resulting in a loss of the distinctive taste it once had. I assumed this newly launched, non-Rosé Prosecco from Kylie Minogue would be just a bottle relying on celebrity branding to disguise a…
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UK EPR Will Cause Wine Price Increases
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is a new UK legislation aimed at making producers fully responsible for managing packaging waste costs. The EPR fee structure includes Environmental Regulator Fees, covering Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) and Environment Agency fees, and Scheme Administrator Fees, which cover recycling costs for household and public bin packaging waste. The…
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25% Off at Morrisons
Morrisons 25% discount on 6 or more bottles of wine, £5.50 or more, from 19 August until 26 August 2024.
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25% Off Wine at Tesco
Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are over £5.50 (£7 in Wales), from 20 August 2024 until 26 August 2024. See the Tesco tasting for tips on what to buy.
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25% Off Wine at Asda
Asda has 25% off wine, on £5.50 per bottle or more, 6 bottles or more, from 19 August 2024 until 26 August 2024. See the Spring Summer Press tasting for tips on what to buy.
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Two Pinot Noir
On the eve of Pinot Noir Day, we had two bottles of Pinot Noir waiting to be tasted, perfect timing for a mini tasting session. Three of us gathered, each with expectations of a light wine experience, especially given the wine variety. We decided to put them to the test not just by themselves but…
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25% Off Wine at Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine, sparkling and Champagne, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more, from 19 August 2024 to 25 August 2024. See the Sainsbury’s tasting for tips on what to buy.
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California Dreaming Wine Tasting
I attended the “California Dreaming” consumer wine tasting event at Majestic in August 2024, hosted by the knowledgeable Andrew from Majestic Woking. Nine of us sampled a selection of wines that highlighted the diverse range of grape varieties available from California, going beyond the typical expectations. We started with a Champagne welcome drink, as Majestic…
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Risks and Benefits of Drinking for Older Adults
A new study looks into the belief that light to moderate drinking, particularly of wine, offers health benefits for older adults. The research, involving over 135,000 participants aged 60 and above from the UK, reveals that alcohol’s impact varies based on an individual’s existing health conditions and socioeconomic status. For those with pre-existing health issues…
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Understanding Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a captivating red wine that transcends its reputation as merely a lighter red option. The name ‘Pinot Noir’ derives from the French words for ‘pine’ and ‘black’, referring to the grape’s tightly clustered, pine cone-shaped bunches and dark skin. This noble grape variety thrives primarily in cooler climates, with its spiritual home…
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Global Chenin Blanc Masters 2024
The Global Chenin Blanc Masters competition recently highlighted the remarkable versatility of Chenin Blanc, which produces some of the finest sweet and dry white wines, both with and without oak, as well as sparkling wines. The Loire Valley is its historic home, producing notable sparkling and sweet wines, such as Crémant de Loire, sparkling Vouvray,…
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Australian Wine Industry Faces New Challenges
The Financial Times newspaper is reporting (might have gone behind paywall by the time you read this) how, in the 1980s, the Australian wine industry faced severe challenges, with some family businesses, like the Calabria family, resorting to washing bottles for others to stay afloat. Today, the industry faces even greater difficulties, particularly as global…
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